Genus
Pieris
14 US plant patents have been granted in this genus. 3 are already in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell them. The next of the 11 still protected comes off patent on October 11, 2027.
Still under patent — 11 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- PassionPP19319Pieris plant named ‘Passion’UNDER PATENTOctober 11, 2027
- RaltoPP19331Pieris plant named ‘Ralto’UNDER PATENTOctober 11, 2027
- FIRE N ICEPP19994Pieris plant named ‘FIRE N ICE’UNDER PATENTNovember 12, 2027
- Opstal 10PP23481Pieris plant named ‘Opstal 10’UNDER PATENTNovember 23, 2031
- GreprsPP23584Pieris plant named ‘Greprs’UNDER PATENTFebruary 2, 2032
- ConrabideauPP24360Pieris japonica plant named ‘Conrabideau’UNDER PATENTJuly 20, 2032
- ShyPP26290Pieris plant named ‘Shy’UNDER PATENTMay 8, 2034
- SincerePP29148Pieris plant named ‘Sincere’UNDER PATENTJuly 26, 2036
- CabernetPP29130Pieris plant named ‘Cabernet’UNDER PATENTJuly 29, 2036
- FARROWPJRFPP31866Pieris plant named ‘FARROWPJRF’UNDER PATENTFebruary 14, 2039
- Piesid2PP34660Pieris plant named ‘Piesid2’UNDER PATENTMarch 31, 2042
Already in the public domain — 3 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- KatsuraPP15452Pieris plant named ‘Katsura’PUBLIC DOMAINNovember 20, 2022
- SweetwaterPP7872Pieris japonica named SweetwaterPUBLIC DOMAINAugust 27, 2010
- CrystalPP4794Pieris japonica named CrystalPUBLIC DOMAINJune 27, 2000
A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name comes with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked, so they are always free to use. What it does not free is any brand name the plant is marketed under. Those are trademarks and renew indefinitely.